Cryo-SEM: anti-aging face cream

Two types of cryo-SEM prepared anti-aging face cream. Specimens were rapidly frozen in slushy nitrogen, fractured at -140°C and sputter coated with 5 nm of platinium.

The specimen was prepared with a PP3010T fitted to a FEI Inspect S (left-hand pair) and JEOL 7800F FE-SEM (right-hand pair).

Cryo-SEM: liposomes in sun screens

Sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Cryo-SEM is an excellent method for studying the structure and distribution of liposomes in these products.

Cryo-SEM: liposomes in hand and nail cream

A popular skin-cream technology uses liposomes (tiny fat capsules) which are said to carry ingredients deep into the skin, although the evidence for deeper penetration has been contested by some scientists using labelling and other techniques.

The specimen was prepared with a PP3010T fitted to an Hitachi SU8030 FE-SEM. A drop of the cream was placed on a rivet, mounted on a cryo stub, rapidly frozen in slushy liquid nitrogen, cold-fractured at 150ºC, sublimated for 3 minutes at -90ºC and sputter coated with a thin layer of platinium (Pt).